Yarn guide driving device

ABSTRACT

A yarn guide driving mechanism for producing a precision wound yarn package. A yarn guide is driven back and forth linearly across the face of said package during the rotation of a take-up assembly distributing the yarn in a predetermined fashion. The yarn guide drive system includes a linear, magnetically actuated guide positioning device, a control means for synchronizing and correlating rotational movement of the package and the linear movement of the yarn guide, and a D.C. power source for driving the yarn guide and the control means. Correlation between the rotary movement of the package and the axial movement of the yarn guide can be pre-programed to change in any way desired to lay consecutive turns of yarn either exactly on top, in very close proximity or at any distance away from the yarn laid during the previous single rotation of the take-up roll.

United States Patent [1 1 Berecz et al.

[ Dec. 10, 1974 YARN GUIDE DRIVING DEVICE [76] Inventors: Endre L. Berecz, 1701 SW. 22nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33315; Peter B. Schweitzer, 8957 SW. 52nd PL, Cooper City, Fla. 33314 221 Filed: Aug. 10,1972 211 Appl. No.: 279,303

[52] US. Cl. 242/43, 242/158 R [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/28 [58] Field of Search 242/43, 43 M, 158 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.964160 12/1960 Edelman ct al. .l 242/43 M FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 909,55l 4/1954 Germany 242/158 R 876.795 9/l96l Great Britain 242/43 M Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmMalin & Haley 5 7] ABSTRACT A yarn guide driving mechanism for producing a precision wound yarn package. A yarn guide is driven back and forth linearly across the face of said package during the rotation of a take-up assembly distributing the yarn in a predetermined fashion. The yarn guide drive system includes a linear, magnetically actuated guide positioning device, a control means for synchro- 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEBBEIOISH 7.853278 sum 3 OF 7 FROM SYNCHRONIZER LOGIC -POWER omvs Com I "Bu T0 COIL SYSTEM YARN GUIDE DRIVING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, efforts were made to devise winding machines that have high speed abilities such as the belt driven reciprocating yarn guides. In spite of their complexity and cost, numerous problems remained unsolved such as yarn reversal location, being uncontrollable to a precise point, acceleration of reversed yarn at the point of reversal due to a snapping action, speed control, problems of the package and belt drive system, etc.

Other methods of reciprocating a yarn by the package have raised even more serious engineering and physics problems such as in the endless cam drive. Accumulative tolerances in the rotating and sliding components of a cam drive resulted in poor end turns which made unwinding of the package if not at all impossible, a serious task. The large mass of the reciprocating yarn guide made high speeds impossible or component life very short. Required changes in package shape, change of yarn crossing angles, or correlation of package speed to yarn guide speed compounded the problems by adding more components in the yarn guide mechanism.

The present invention employs an extremely low mass yarn guide, a very low mass traveler in the yarn guide drive system upon which electromagnetic forces act in a sequential fashion and a suitable low mass connecting rod. As such this system has the capability of instant starting, traveling at very high (or very low) speeds, and an instantaneous or delayed reversing, as required. The synchronizer system provides the electronic logic to the power supply to activate the sequential pulses which move the driven traveler in the yarn guide drive system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION which coils is the driven member such as one or more permanent magnets or suitable ferromagnetic assemblies. The driven member is tubular in shape and is mounted inside said coil assembly and surrounded by a smooth bearing-like material. The driven member is solidly and permanently attached to a low mass rod. The rod carries a hard, long wearing low mass material shaped to guide a yarn that is running through or over it. The rod is supported either throughout its length or at convenient and necessary points outside the coil system by a low friction bushing like material. The other end of the rod not attached to the driven member is attached to a second low mass member similar to the driven member. Both driven member and the second low mass member may have a shape suitable to force air around them when traveling at speeds thereas reducing friction. The second low mass member is also surrounded by a low friction bearing-like material. If so desired. a second coil system can be placed around the second low mass member for more power, in which case the second low mass member should be the same material as the driven member.

A DC electrical power supply is utilized to give driving power to the coil system-driven member assembly.

A variable frequency electronic logic secures the proper phasing and sequence of the electrical impulses A variable resistance or capacitance is employed to change and vary the frequency of the impulses delivered to the coil system. Since the driven member moves when a coil or coil subsystem is energized, the speed of the driven member can be controlled by a more or less rapid energizing of the consecutive coils or subcoil systems.

The driven member is moved electromagnetically as an object transferred from point to point; it operates and stops in a digital fashion, yet provides an almost stepless, smooth operation.

Reversal of the traveling member is accomplished by sensing the arrival of the ferromagnetic traveling member to either end of the coil system. Upon arrival, a sensing element sends an electric signal to the control system which performs a simple double pole, double throw function to rearrange the polarity and connections of some of the pulses feeding the coil system from the power supply.

The location of the sensors may be automatically adjusted to conform to a preprograrnmed pattern, by mechanical means. The movement which adjusts thelocations of the sensors can be originated by the increase of the yarn package size.

The control system provides the axial yarn guide drive system with the pulse logic necessary to achieve a wide range of axial speed and is comprised of a frequency generator controlled by a number of variable resistors, a logic system which provides the proper positive and negative pulses with proper phasing to the switching circuit of the power supply" in order to generate pulses usable by the axial yarn guide drive system, and a solid state reversing switch which upon receiving a signal from the sensing element on arrival of the driven member will rearrange the logic systems" output polarities so as to propel the driven member after a definite stop back in the opposite direction.

One variable resistor has a manually accessible knob which allows presetting the initial relation between the rotary movement of the yarn package and the axial movement of the yarn guide. Specifically, it determines at the starting of the winding process, the number of turns or crossings the yarn will make on the package and the yarn crossing angle. The other variable resistors are utilized individually through interrupting switches to create a change in the speed of the yarn guide as the package increases or to change the correlation between the rotary movement of the package and the axial movement of the yarn guide.

This change can be at any predetermined rate; logarithmic, exponential, linear or special to suit the package requirement. These variable resistors will be mounted on a shaft which will rotate as the shaft extension arm follows the growth of the yarn package,

The take-up mechanism is comprised of rotatable package supports. Driving power is applied either to the package support shaft to provide a constant shaft speed drive or to the periphery of the package to provide constant surface speed drive. In either case an angular displacement will take place between the package support system and a bail roll support system as theresult of the growth of the package diameter.

It is an object of this invention to provide a highspeed, low mass yarn guide driving mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a front elevation in cross-section of Applicants driving mechanism.

FIG. 1B is a schematic of the electrical circuit of Applicants driving mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the power drive of Applicants invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the control means of Applicants invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic for providing logic signals to the power drive.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show the schematic relationship between the energizing coils and the magnets on the rod.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the step-by-step movement of Applicant's drive mechanism.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The yarn driving mechanism is shown comprised of a plurality of coils ll, l2, l3 and 14 disposed as discs separated by predetermined spacings and arranged to form a cylinder 10 having an aperture disposed along the longitudinal axis ofthe cylinder. Inserted within the aperture is a tube 18 having a plurality of magnetic elements disposed inside of said tube. Each magnetic element is separated a predetermined distance from adjacent elements. Coupled rigidly to tube 18 is an eye 22 for receiving and guiding the yarn. The tube is supported within the cylinder aperture by bushings l6 and 17. Each coil ll, l2, l3 and 14 is individually coupled to a power source and to the control unit. Excitation of each coil produces a magnetic force flux field through the coil aperture causing attractive and repelling forces to act on the magnetic elements 15 driving the elements 15 within tube 18 in a lateral direction dependent upon which coils are stimulated. Thus, the tube 18 and therefore the yarn guide 12 may be laterally positioned to a plurality of locations which are determined by signals received in the coils, ll, l2, l3, and 14.

FIG. 1B shows the electrical schematic of Applicants yarn guide device including circuitry required to drive the individual coils. Each coil winding A.. B A and B is wired to a common ground at one pole and to DC. power sources A and B at the other poles. Each power source is coupled in an every-other-one sequence along the line of coils.

Power drive I) in FIG. 2 is coupled to coil systems A and B. The power drive has a negative and positive power source 20 and 21 and an input from a control device which provides synchronization logic to the power driving system. This synchronization information would include the angular position of the bail roll which is changing as yarn is added to the reel.

Logic information is provided by a pulsing device in FIG. 3 which receives pulses from a frequency generator 28 driven by a plurality of potentiometers, each set in value for different possible functions of the machine or configurations that are desired to drive the yarn guide. Potentiometer 23 shows a manual control for setting any particular manual frequency generation desired. Also coupled to the frequency generator 28 is a linear potentiometer 24, an exponential potentiometer 25, a logarithmic potentiometer 26 and a special potentiometer 27 which would provide a variety of possible configurations for the yarning as it is received on the phasing device. Pulses of a particular frequency are sent to a logic device 29. Also coupled to the logic device is a solid state reversing switch having two inputs, input 31 for left sensor and input 32 for right sensor which provides a single logic device whenever the yarn guide arm has reached its maximum linear movement in either the left or right direction. This provides a signal which reverses the logic switching thus giving directional logic to the rod guide.

FIG. 4 shows the electrical schematic to provide the proper logic signals to the power drive. Potentiometers are shown as variable resistors 24, 25, 26 and 27, each having an open switch coupled in series to the manual potentiometer 23. The frequency generation is provided by a transistor 40 which sends the pulse to a pair of gates 33 and 34. Each gate is coupled to a flip-flop 35 or 36 respectively which sends one signal to the power drive system at a first phase, the other one sending a second signal at a phase. The other lead from the flip-flop is coupled to the input of the respective opposite gate. The reversing signal is provided from flipflop 30 coupled to two inductances 39 and 38 labeled, left-hand and right-hand which are coupled to ground. Energizing either inductance provides a signal driving the flip-flop sending the reversing signal to a triple gate 37 connected between the second flip-flop and the first incoming gate. By providing a pair of driving signals 90 out of phase, a more even power supply may be made to the coils thus giving the yarn arm guide a smoother motion.

FIG. 5A shows the rod in a typical mid-position relative to the coils 43, the rod 46 having a plurality or reversely opposed elements 44 along its length. The magnetic elements 44 may be permanent. FIG. 5B shows the rod with the direction of travel to the right having moved to its end 45 position. FIG. 5C shows complete travel to the left at the end 45 position. The rod length is shown as twice the length of the coils.

It is essential for the operation of Applicants device that the yarn guide eye be sychronized with the feed rotation and the thickness or the diameter size of the roll of yarn in order that the correct pattern be positioned upon the take-up roll. As the take-up roll increases in diameter, the speed of the yarn on the perimeter will change. Synchronization is provided by having an additional take-up roll coupled to a moveable shaft that rotates as the size of the take-up roll diameter increases. The take-up roll is engaged with a portion of the outer perimeter at the bail roll.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed step-by-step sequence for providing linear motion of the rod along the plurality of coils A,, B,, A,,, B A and B, using three magnetic elements. CW and CCW connote clockwise and counterclockwise current winding direction respectively. Step 1 provides a positive signal from A and B to the coils B' and A thus driving the rod as positioned shown. In step 2 signal A is made negative and signal B is positive, which drives the rod further left to the position shown. In step 3, both signals A and B are made negative, driving the rod further left in alignment with the respective coils as shown. In step 4, a positive signal is sent to A and a negative signal to B. The same pulsing sequence is maintained and repeated again which drives the rod all the way to the left. The switch ing sequence can be changed or stopped at any particular position along the line of coils to produce reverse motion for providing any particular design of yarn on the take-up. Additional feedback information can be taken from another portion of the rod to provide information signals back into the logic system for giving position or speed of the rod. The various specialized potentiometers may be utilized to provide a signal pattern that will produce motion of the rod that generates on the bail roll a particular winding pattern.

Although a square wave pulse is shown, various wave patterns may be utilized to produce a smoother pattern of motion of the rod. Switching sequence for a right to left motion is also shown with the appropriate signal reverses. A sensing element at the extreme end of each rod produces a reversal switching causing all the signals to reverse to provide opposite motion away from a stop 7 position.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. This yarn guide drive may be applied in tool applications or other functions.

The driving rod may be of any cross-sectional configuration. Filler material between the magnets may be provided. Reversal of shaft movement may be accomplished electronically by providing a predetermined number of pulses in sequence which would indicate and energize the pulse reversal mechanism.

Potentiometers may be replaced by pre-programmed tape or other programming signals which provide information to drive the guide mechanism for a specific final package.

Additional synchronization could be provided between the take-up roll and the bail by preprogrammed recorded electronic signals added to the control device.

Although a square wave energizing pulse has been 6 utilized to drive the disk magnets, different shaped pulses may be utilized such as sinusoidal, etc. The rod may be locked by providing a continous DC signal to one or all coils simultaneously.

The motor may be varied in construction to position magnetic material as a sleeve surrounding the coils.

What we claim is: l. A yarn guide driving mechanism for positioning a yarn guide relative to a yarn takeup reel comprising:

linearly actuating magnetic yarn guide motor, said yarn guide motor including a plurality of magnetic disks parallely disposed adjacent each other forming a cylinder, each disk having a central aperture; a shaft partially disposed and moveable withinsaid disk apertures, said shaft having a plurality of separated magnetic segments disposed along its length in a pole-to-pole relationship; and inductive circuit means coupled to each magnetic disk, for energizing each disk individually; yarn guide rigidly connected to said shaft moveable back and forth along a straight line path by said motor; signal means coupled to said yarn takeup reel for sensing and generating a signal representing the diameter of said yarn on said takeup reel; power source; motor control means connected to said motor, said power source and said yarn takeup reel diameter signal generating means for energizing said motor for driving said yarn guide to particular positions relative to said takeup reel in synchronization with said yarn takeup diameter whereby said yarn guide is positionable by said motor to any point along a linear path adjacent said takeup reel. 2. A yarn guide as in claim 1, wherein: said motor control means is connected to said inductive circuit means and includes: signal pulse generating means connected to said inductive circuit means; and polarity-reversing means coupled to said signal pulse generating means and said shaft for reversing said pulsing signal whenever said shaft reaches the limit of its motion at one end or the other. 

1. A yarn guide driving mechanism for positioning a yarn guide relative to a yarn takeup reel comprising: linearly actuating magnetic yarn guide motor, said yarn guide motor including a plurality of magnetic disks parallely disposed adjacent each other forming a cylinder, each disk having a central aperture; a shaft partially disposed and moveable within said disk apertures, said shaft having a plurality of separated magnetic segments disposed along its length in a pole-to-pole relationship; and inductive circuit means coupled to each magnetic disk, for energizing each disk individually; yarn guide rigidly connected to said shaft moveable back and forth along a straight line path by said motor; signal means coupled to said yarn takeup reel for sensing and generating a signal representing the diameter of said yarn on said takeup reel; power source; motor control means connected to said motor, said power source and said yarn takeup reel diameter signal generating means for energizing said motor for driving said yarn guide to particular positions relative to said takeup reel in synchronization with said yarn takeup diameter whereby said yarn guide is positionable by said motor to any point along a linear path adjacent said takeup reel.
 2. A yarn guide as in claim 1, wherein: said motor control means is connected to said inductive circuit means and includes: signal pulse generating means connected to said inductive circuit means; and polarity-reversing means coupled to said signal pulse generating means and said shaft for reversing said pulsing signal whenever said shaft reaches the limit of its motion at one end or the other. 